Metal Injection Molding (MIM)

Metal injection molding (MIM) is metal forming process where metal powder is mixed with a binding agent and injected into a mold cavity to form the shape of a part. The metal powder is never melted, but rather mixed with a binding agent that creates a liquid feedstock that can be injected into mold cavities. The formed part is cooled and ejected from the mold, and then several chemical or thermal processes are performed to remove the binding agent and join the powder into a dense metal, similar to sintered metal. The process has been growing in popularity recently as the technology required for MIM catches up with other metalworking processes, due to the advantage of creating metal parts with highly complex geometries and low cycle times.